Nicolas Jackson missed the chance to make amends with Mauricio Pochettino after Chelsea’s penalty farce… his shameful week plunged to new depths in defeat to Man City, writes SAMI MOKBEL

No wonder Nicolas Jackson was so desperate to take that penalty against Everton.

Because if that’s how he ends in open play, then he needs all the help he can get.

It may be harsh on the Chelsea striker, but a week that started disgracefully for Jackson fell deeper here at Wembley on Saturday after a display of profligacy contributed largely to his side missing out on a place in the FA Cup final.

It hasn’t been a few days since Jackson thought about it with great pride. He shouldn’t, anyway.

His role in Monday’s ridiculous debacle at Stamford Bridge, in which the Ivorian attempted to win the ball back from teammates Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke after Chelsea were awarded a penalty, created an unnecessary storm during a evening where his team won 6-0.

The Senegalese international missed several opportunities for the Blues at Wembley Stadium

On Monday night, Jackson argued with his teammates over a penalty decision against Everton.

And now this: a rather intolerable display in front of goal to end his team’s trophy ambitions.

Jackson lived one of those days where all you want is for the ground to open up and swallow you.

Although, based on this evidence, he probably would have missed the sinkhole.

Who can say whether Chelsea would have booked a return to the national stadium to face Manchester United or Coventry in next month’s final if Jackson had only taken one of the three guild opportunities his colleagues had offered him.

They would have had a much better chance if he had, of course.

The chances when playing Manchester City come sparingly at best. When they show up, you grab them with a vice-like grip – especially when you made your team a laughing stock a few days earlier.

Here, with a chance for glory on the line, Jackson wasted. How nice.

There is so much to admire in his game. The power, the pace, it’s a dangerous concoction.

John Stones had no answer to an eye-catching run down the left in the first half. It was a reminder of what Jackson is capable of.

Jackson’s pace and power were a problem for City’s defense throughout Saturday’s clash.

However, his composure in front of goal against the treble winners left much to be desired.

But the attackers score goals. The best ones are ruthless and cold-blooded. Here, Jackson showed all the composure of a child on Christmas morning.

Ask Chelsea fans, it has become a familiar story of their season.

Indeed, Jackson was the butt of jokes on social media in the aftermath of Saturday’s crushing defeat.

With the game ahead against a City side far from their best, Jackson found himself on his knees.

Chelsea’s hopes of a second national final of the season went up in smoke amid Jackson’s madness.

“He had the game in hand and he didn’t keep his promises,” described Jermaine Jenas.

It was a scathing assessment of Jackson’s contribution from the former England international – but not an exaggeration.

Great players rise to the occasion on big occasions. Where does that leave Jackson?

Behind the scenes, those close to Jackson have struggled to forget his role in Monday’s penalty-killing debacle, amid feelings that his willingness to ignore instructions from the team, which named Cole Palmer as the team’s penalty taker first choice, was due to an adrenaline rush. and his desire to add to his personal total after scoring earlier in the evening.

Jackson’s role in the chaotic scenes has been described as a reflection of his growing personality as he aims to achieve his goal of scoring 20 goals this season.

Jackson argued with Noni Madueke (left) that he should take the penalty against the Toffees

In the end, first choice penalty taker Cole Palmer stepped up and slotted the ball into the net.

It was also pointed out that strikers should be self-centered and that Jackson develops this selfish side.

There is probably some truth to these claims. But any goodwill, particularly from Chelsea fans, is diminishing.

His head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, did not appreciate his actions on Monday evening. Jackson did nothing here to make it up to his manager.

If Chelsea get their way, they will benefit from an upgrade from Jackson at the position before the start of next season.

That’s not to say his career with the Blues would necessarily deteriorate if Chelsea got the new number 9 they so desperately crave.

The raw materials are there. Jackson needs some shaping – and at 22, time is on his side.

Mauricio Pochettino will not have been impressed by Jackson’s performance

But teams the size of Chelsea can ill afford to learn on the job, their main source of goals. This is unfortunately the position Jackson finds himself in.

There have been times this season where Jackson has made a tangible impact playing on the outside.

Yet these positive contributions have been far too inconsistent, especially for a team as ambitious as Chelsea.

But if Chelsea’s American owners are to deliver on their promises to return the club to the top of domestic and European football, it seems unlikely that Jackson will be the man to sack them.